Out Of The Past

He came back out of the restroom, still with that sweet smile on his face as he returned to bed, crawling back up with me and snuggling in; soon he was once again sound asleep. 

I bent my head down, giving him a soft kiss on the top of his head, as I leaned back with him and drifted rapidly off to join my angels in slumber. The last thought to run through my conscious mind was that yes, all was definitely right in my world.

I awoke to one of the kids crying, "I'm hungry," which didn't surprise me much, but I still groaned, couldn't they just sleep in for a teeny tiny bit longer, please.

I tried to go back to sleep, when another voice intruded, "me too" 

Great.

"Wake up your dad," I heard the voice say, as the other one said, "no way" 

Smart kids.

I once again began to drift off, and then heard "you gotta, we're gonna starve," followed by silence, good.

I was just drifting off when I heard, "Come on, he won't get mad at you." then "Well, alright, I guess." in a not too sure tone of voice, followed by the patter of little feet, heading unmistakably in this direction.

"Go on." I heard whispered, then from close by, "remember, we're starving." 

"Alright, you sure he won't get mad?" the littler voice asked. 

"Oh no, he won't get mad, he likes when we wake him up." the older voice opined sagely.

"Well, if you're sure," the youngest said, sounding quite unsure himself.

"Yea it's ok, really, he loves when we wake him up." a third and heretofore unheard voice remarked.

"Well alright," the littlest voice said again, still plainly unsure about this enterprise.

In an almost unhearable whisper, "Daddy,"

"You got to say it louder, he's asleep." the first older voice said, not so quietly.

"But...ok," that little voice told them, "umm...Daddy?" a little louder, but not much,

"DADDY," a lot louder, as I heard "Oh shit," from the older voices

"What?" that little voice asked in panic.

"Not that loud," was said.

I opened my eyes to see Peter standing there, not quite knowing what was happening with Randy and Danny standing behind him, snickering silently. I could also see Kevin in his bed watching everything intently.

They quickly put on innocent looks, when they realized that I was awake, and staring at them.

Peter looked so adorable standing there, with a mixture of hope and fear, going back and forth across his face.

I decided to fix the terrors good, and smiled saying "good morning sweetheart, how are you doing this morning?" as the trinity's mouths dropped open in utter shock.

What was even better though, was the beaming smile that took over Peter's face, upon hearing my greeting, as I reached out and pulled him into my arms, for a big good morning hug. 

It was almost worth being woke up, to see both, as I kept watching Randy and Danny, looking back and forth between Peter and Me, and their brother, who was making faces of complete and utter confusion, over the turn of events.

I decided to add to it by telling Peter, "I love being woke up by my babies, in the morning, there is no better way to start the day," still with a smile on my face. 

I thought the trinity was going die right there, from shock, as I just sat there holding onto my littlest one. 

It was worth it, just to get them this good, almost.

The final icing on the cake was saying, "well don't I get hugs from my favorite brats, this morning?" as they began to sputter, completely stunned.

Slowly, first Randy, and then Danny, came over and received hugs, and kisses from me, although you could tell they were waiting for the other shoe to drop, any moment now. 

Finally, I turned towards Kevin, and said, "Well, don't I get one from you too?" 

He just looked at his brothers, not sure what to make of things, before coming slowly over to me. You'd think he was walking to his execution, the way he gingerly approached, but he did finally make it over to the bed, where I pulled him into a big hug with a smile on my face, giving him a kiss as I said, "just remember, payback is a bitch." in a whisper.

I heard him suck in his breath, clearly startled, as he pulled back, and looked at me with wide and innocent eyes, while I just stared back.

I had him worried now, as he quickly moved back to stand beside his brothers, never taking his eyes off of me.

Let him stew for a while.

Then I heard a soft whisper, "you're mean," and a Sammy giggle, as I turned to find my baby boy looking up at me, with a smile on his face.

"Hey little man, how are you feeling this morning?" I asked him, as I bent down and kissed his forehead.

"Hungry," was the response which, for a boy, translated as 'fine', as I just smiled.

"Well ok, it seems you're not the only one, so I'd better get dressed, and go find something," I told him and the others, pulling myself out of the bed.

I first of all headed for the bathroom, to take care of matters, and was joined before I even got it out, by Sammy, who apparently had the same overwhelming need.

Afterward we washed up, and I tried to do something with my hair, before going back out and getting dressed. 

It seems that while we were in the bathroom, certain people decided to wake up everyone else, so we were greeted by sleepy kids and adults, as we came out of the bathroom.

Mumbled "good mornings" were exchanged by all, and I told them that I was heading out to get some food.

Samantha asked if I could drop her off at work, and I readily agreed, so we headed off, leaving Eric to watch the brood, as soon as Samantha got presentable.

While she was in the bathroom, I called dispatch and asked them to send a unit to meet us at the ER entrance, she was going to have protection, and I told Eric this, and that I would pay the overtime for it.

He wouldn't hear of it of course, but I would argue that later.

Finally we headed out, only to find that we weren't alone.

"And where do you think you're going?" I asked the pair, staring at me, with innocent looks plastered on their silly grins.

"With you," was the reply.

"With me?" I said.

"Yeah." impudence personified answered.

Eric, of course, being ever helpful, just stood there with a grin on his face.

"Well now, whatever makes you think that?" I asked the bold one of the two.

"Cause you're going to need help," was the cheeky answer, "and we can help."

"You can, eh?" I said unconvinced.

"Yep."

"Well, I don't know." I slowly drawled, which finally got a crack to appear in his facade,

"But uncle Mike..." he started to say,

"Daaaad," I heard along with some Sammy giggles, "stop teasing them."

"You just want to take all the fun out of life don't you munchkin," I teased him, which just got some more giggles and a smile.

"Well, I suppose..." but was interrupted by shouts of "YEA!!!"

"Well, lets go then," I told them, and Danny and Peter quickly scampered out the door to leave Samantha and Me to follow, shaking our heads.

"You're good with them," she said, as we walked towards the elevator

"I love em" I told her simply.

"Yeah, I noticed that" she told me

"I think Millie was right you would have been great working with kids," she added.

"No, it would have killed me. I couldn't stand to see all those kids needing so much and not be able to do anything about it."

She didn't answer for a while, and I thought it was dropped, until we got on the elevator and she said, 

"You still would have been wonderful for them."

I didn't answer this time, as we headed downstairs, with the little ones bouncing off the walls.

It was going to be a long day, and they hadn't even had any sugar yet.

When we got down to the ER, we found the unit who was to meet us, and I explained to Samantha, that he would accompany her today, and that she wasn't supposed to go anywhere without him. I also gave her my card, with my cell phone number on it, and told her to call me around noon, and I should have everything set up by then.

She didn't look like she liked it much, but agreed, and went off with him as I loaded my two into the car, and headed out to find IHOP.

When we got there I asked, "So, pancakes sound good to everyone?" which got enthusiastic nods from both, and we went inside to get the food to feed the starving masses.

We sat down at an open booth, and when the waitress came over, I told her I needed a large to go order, and then began thinking.

I finally decided to order 40 pancakes, which was more than we needed, but some of these pigs ate enough for 4, so we might, and I want to emphasize might, have enough. I also told her I wanted maple and berry syrup, for that much, and butter on all the pancakes, along with 10 juices and 10 milks and to bring a couple of chocolate donuts right now, which got two boys eyes widening to the size of saucers, along with big grins plastered on their faces, then we sat back to wait.

"I just wanted to say I am proud of you guys for the way you both were yesterday, with Chris and Brian, you really helped them a lot." I told them.

They just looked at me and then Peter said, "He needed us," simply and plainly as if he'd said 'duh'.

I just had to love them, they didn't ask questions, or think about it, they just did. 

Kids were really wonderful that way, if you allowed them to be, they wore their hearts on their sleeves, and loved freely.

"I know that, and that's why I'm proud of the both of you, because you saw that and were there for them."

I still got looks like I was crazy, but they just smiled, at the daft adult, and had the grace not to say anything further, although I could tell they didn't really understand.

They each enjoyed their donut, and I decided to grab 3 dozen to go as well, and finally, we got out of their with our food.

On the way back, Peter asked "are Chris and Derek going to live with us too?"

"No honey, I don't think so, although they will probably be spending a lot of time with us."

"Good," was the response, which caused me to look over at him quickly, to see him smiling. 

"You like them, don't you?" I asked him, and he just nodded his head, clearly another 'duh' type look, showing on his face.

One day with my monsters; and he was already picking up bad habits; oh well.

We got back to the hospital, and started trying to get all the bags collected. I guess we looked kind of pathetic, because a nurse, who had been outside on break, came over and asked, "you trying to feed a whole floor or something?" with a grin on her face.

"Nah, just 8 starving kids." I told her, chuckling, which got her laughing before she stopped and looked at everything saying,

"Hmmm, sure you got enough?" Which got me laughing, while the boys scowled at us for making fun of them.

"I hope so," I said with a forlorn sound in my voice, as between us we got it all and headed upstairs to the rest of the clan.

Now if you don't have a bunch of kids, or haven't been around a bunch, then you probably won't understand the next part, but don't feel bad, cause I did, and I didn't understand it either.

We got to the room, and you would think we had truly been starving them, because everyone except Chris and Brian attacked us, before we even made it through the door, and they were clearly eying the single wheelchair in the room, which was Brian's. 

I was afraid they would start trying to crawl to it, or me, so I quickly fended off the voracious animals, and set everything down on the bed, quickly handing Eric a plate, with some pancakes on it, with syrup, for Chris, while the rest attacked in a feeding frenzy reminiscent of those pictures of sharks.

It was all I could do to keep my fingers intact at first, and quickly I backed away with plates for Eric and Me, leaving the savages to fight amongst themselves, for sustenance.

The nurse meanwhile had been standing there laughing herself silly, as I thanked her and she left.

The next little while was relatively quiet although anyone passing the room probably thought there was an orgy in here from all the moans and "oh yeses" coming from inside it.

Many years ago I had seen pornographic movies with less enthusiasm being displayed audibly than what was coming from in this room.

A word of advice, as sweet, loving, adorable and cute as my bunch were, never, never get between them and food.

Eric and I were just shaking our heads, while watching this, and were staying out of their way because; already they had been eying our plates, on several occasions.

After an interminable amount of time, the frenzy died down, and sanity returned to their eyes, which meant the eating became something at a pace a normal person might be inclined to partake of, although faster still, than most.

When all was said and done, the mice would be the ones starving in this room, they had managed to vacuum up every last morsel, and all that remained was the clean-up.

You could see it in their eyes that they knew the battle was coming, so I just smiled and said,

"Well Eric, it's your turn," with an even bigger grin on my face, as he scowled at me in mock anger.

Syrup+kids=mess+Eric=fun, at least to them.

"Fine," he said to me, in a mutter. I told you I would get him back.

"Line up at the door," he told them, while they all just looked at him.

"NOW," he said, which got them giggling, and scrambling, 

"NOT that door." he had to say next, as they all went and lined up, at the door to the room.

This of course got all 8 brats giggling, as they thought it was hysterical, and Kevin muttering, "You didn't say which door."

"KEVIN ANTHONY CARLSON," Eric intoned in an ominous sounding voice,

"Yes, dad," he said, with an impish smile on his face.

Eric smiled sweetly, as they all came up to the proper door, and said "you're first," which made Kev lose his smile rapidly.

"But he's first," he said, pointing at Peter, who had the misfortune of being stuck in that position, but I had no doubt he would quickly learn,

I was trying not to laugh at the comical look of panic, that had taken its place on Kevin's face, at Eric's pronouncement, which got even worse when Eric sweetly said, "not any more."

"Daaaaaad," Kevin tried next with the old puppy dog eyes and a pitiful expression on his face.

"MARCH," was Eric's only response, but I could see the smile, hiding in his eyes, as Kevin, with the certainty that his end awaited him, through that door shuffled slowly forward, with dejection and defeat written plainly in his posture.

As soon as the door closed behind them, the others broke out in giggles, as I said, "Don't forget your next," which earned me withering looks from the remaining condemned prisoners. 

I went over and got a washcloth, dipping it into the tray by Sam's bed, and started on Brian, who clearly enjoyed the attention of all of them. 

I almost had tears in my eyes, seeing him take such pleasure in a simple thing such as this.

I spent way longer than I needed, just washing his face and hands over and over again, before finally bending down and kissing his forehead, and telling him, "I love you", which got me a smile that was worth a million dollars. 

I couldn't resist, I had to do it again, so I gave him another kiss, while he just kept smiling.

"Get used to it, Brian, he does it all the time," I heard, as I turned, to find Sammy standing there, looking at us, smiling.

"I kinda think I might be able to," the munchkin said, still grinning ear to ear, and then I couldn't resist stopping and giving SamSam one, as well. 

"See," he said impishly.

"Yeah I do, you're out of line," which caused him to giggle, and stick out his tongue at me, as I took a playful swat at his retreating behind, eliciting more giggles, and a squeal before he said,

"Nah nah you missed," giggling away.

"This time." This made him get a worried look on his face as I turned towards Chris.

I walked over and bent down, planting a kiss on his forehead, as I asked, "How are you this morning, honey?"

"Pretty good," he said smiling,

"Well that's good," I told him.

I started washing him up, and he didn't like it as well as Brian had.

"You ready to get out of here today?" I asked.

"Yeah, where are we going to go?" he asked.

"Well you're going to get a hotel room for now, and spend time with the munchkins and Me, until your mom can quit her jobs and get something else," I told him

He looked at me with wonder in his eyes, and said, "She's gonna quit her jobs, just to spend time with us?" with disbelief in his voice.

"Yep, she sure is."

I could see the happiness in his eyes, and it really touched me.

"She really loves you guys, you know, and she wants to be there for you," I told him, as I pulled him into a hug.

He didn't say anything, and I let him go, and finished washing him up. 

"Ok, you're all set." I told him, smiling as I started to turn away.

"Umm." I heard, and turned back to him, to find him looking at me

"What is it honey?" I asked him.

"Well...ummm...could...I mean..." he stuttered, and I could see his face was kind of red,

"It's ok, what is it?" I asked him again, gently.

"Umm...I gotta go bad, real bad," he mumbled, blushing even more,

"Ok sweetheart, that's ok, I'll get the nurse for you, I told him.

"NO, I mean, ah, please, no, its just, I mean its a girl," he finished, and I struggled hard not to laugh.

"Well, what do you want; I can get your brother if you'd like?" I asked him

"Could you..I mean...?" he asked haltingly,

"Sure, I'd be happy too, just a second," I told him, as I put the pan down, and pulled the curtains around us, before turning back to him.

"I'm really sorry to ask," he said to me, clearly embarrassed. 

"Hey, it's ok, it doesn't bother me at all, and shouldn't bother you either, remember, I have a few boys of my own," I told him, laughing softly.

He smiled, as I walked over and pulled his gown up. I took the container, and held it in place, and then grabbed hold of it, placing it inside, and told him "fire away," smiling slightly.

He went, but he also had a natural reaction to being held, and when he was finished, and I drained it, I heard him gasp, as I pulled it out, and released the now very hard appendage. 

He began to stutter, "I'm s..so..sorry," and turned his head away, but I could see the tears in his eyes, before he did.

"Hey," I said, as I reached out and took his chin in my hand,

"It's alright, I'm not mad or upset," I told him gently.

He looked into my eyes, and didn't say anything, so I told him, "it's ok, really, it's a normal reaction, and I bet you haven't been able to give it any attention since you've been in here either," knowing that with one arm in a cast, and the other with an IV in it on a board, that it would have been next to impossible, if not impossible.

He shook his head slightly, and I just repeated, "Its ok Chris, I've seen one hard, a time or two," smiling gently at him.

"But...you're a guy, and..." he got out, 

"Nice of you to notice," I told him, smiling gently, "I know that, and remember what I said yesterday?"

He nodded his head and I continued, "There is nothing wrong with you, now or before, remember that," I told him firmly.

"Could you...?" he mumbled "it hurts, its so hard," and I could see it was, even though he certainly didn't want it to be, right now.

It was sad, he had been put through this, where he felt ashamed of himself, and his body, but only time would help, I thought, as I told him,

"Well I can't, but I bet I know someone who would be happy to,"

He looked apprehensive, so I told him, "Remember what your mom told you yesterday?"

Which got him to blush, as he said, "ok, if you're sure..."

"Yes, I'm sure, and I am sure he won't mind in the slightest," I said, grinning, which caused his blush to get even worse, they definitely blush all over, I knew I had read that somewhere. 

"I'll keep everyone away for a bit too, ok?" 

"Yeah and Mike, thanks, you're pretty cool," he told me shyly.

"Thanks little one, see ya later." I said, as I kissed him on the forehead, and left to find a certain boy.

I found him, with the others, and motioned him over, telling him when I got him in private,

"Hey munchkin, your brother needs help with something kind of personal and I thought you might be willing to help him out" I said to him which caused him to look at me curiously

"What?" he asked, as I bent down and whispered exactly what, in his ear.

He turned a bright shade of red, and said, "I think I might be able to do that," and then with an impish grin on his face said, "he's not the only one," as he disappeared behind the curtain, leaving me just standing there shaking my head, with my mouth open.

I walked back over to the others, and found them all looking at me, "what?" I said, but they didn't answer, although Sammy gave me a knowing grin.

Eric was giving me a funny look, but didn't say anything, as we sat there talking and cuddling, for a bit. It looked like he had won the war again, to get a mess of boys clean. About 5 minutes or so later, the curtains were pulled open, and two blonds were looking at us, with big ole shit eating grins on their faces, but still bright red.

Guess that problem got solved, for the both of them I thought, while grinning back at them.

Just in time too, as the doctor knocked, and came in, going first to Sammy, and asking

"So, how are we feeling today?"

I could see Sammy was about to make a smart comment, and gave him a warning glare, which was only partially successful, as he said with a smile,

"WE, are feeling fine, can I go home now?" which got the doctor laughing, as he said, "Well, that's a good sign, and I didn't know whether he meant the sarcasm or wanting to go home.

"Well let's check you out there, young man," the doctor said, as he began poking and prodding Sam, who I could see was biting his tongue.

He didn't bite it hard enough though, when the doctor got to his wound, and poked it asking, "Does that hurt?" 

Sammy looked up at him incredulously, and while I quickly said, "Sammy" he was already saying, "ya think?" which got the boys all giggling, and the doctor looking confused.

I quickly added before Sammy said anything else, "I would imagine it does," which got a look from both Sam and the doctor, before he said, "yes I think he can go home, just fine," and walked over to Chris, while I could hear Sammy mumble, "how about if I kick you in the nuts and ask if it hurts?" 

I didn't think it was loud enough for the doctor to have heard, I hoped, and glanced quickly in that direction before saying,

"Sammy." 

"Well jeez, dad, that was kind of stupid." although his disgruntled look had left, to be replaced by a grin, as he was getting himself up, and beginning to get ready. 

It was then that I realized, that in all the confusion, I hadn't gotten Sam any clothes and the ones he had were gone, that and a little boy asking

"Dad, where's my clothes?"

Oh boy, someone wasn't going to be happy.